Your cover letter is the first impression that you give employers. Sometimes without a GOOD cover letter, your resume does not get the attention it deserves. Let's face it; resumes get skipped over all the time. That's why you have to come up with a strategy on how to sell yourself to this potential employer. Set yourself apart by telling the employer how you will help them achieve their goals and what they reap if they hire you. If a cover letter does not attract the reader's attention in the first paragraph then your chances of being called for an interview are drastically reduced. An employer may have a hundred or more resumes to look through and he or she is probably limited in time to make their selection. Here are a few tips that can help you towards a high quality cover letter.(Click on link to "Read the Full Article")
Tip #1:
If you are going to mail your cover letter then use high-quality white paper; it's thicker than typewriter or printer paper. Avoid elaborate or colored stationery. Print a clean final copy to send, not a photocopy. Make sure there are no smudges or grease marks on the paper. Keep your extra copies in a large envelope or manila folder. Comments: 42 and Looking said...
FYI to those who think mailing isn't worth it: I just mailed 217 covers/resumes to recruiting offices in the Midwest. I've received more calls, e-mails and one on one service in the last 10 days than I did in the whole first 5 months of my search. Think about it...you don't just drop into the electronic void, they have to contact you and request the electronic copy. Have to say mailing worked great for me.
Tip #2:
Keep your cover letter(create one here) brief and to the point. Your letter should not go over one page. Use short paragraphs and bullet points whenever possible. Avoid excessive words when fewer words will get your point across equally. Construct your cover letter to have the same format style as your resume.
Tip #3:
Highlight a most recent accomplishment or credential that you are proud of. This gives employers a hint of what you are capable of doing. Impress the employer with your skills and qualifications.
Click here to read part 2 of this article
__________________________________________________________
Related Career Transition Tools:
- Instantly create the perfect Customized cover letters in your email!
- Save Time while Delivering a Unique Professional Cover letter with every resume.
Write better cover letters today- click here
Provided the Job Hunting Authority & Best Selling Author:Phil Baker
__________________________________________________________
Two questions:
ReplyDelete1. Does anyone actually snail mail job applications any more? I chuckled that the first tip was about using the proper paper and it made me wonder when this article was written.
2. Why not put your name in a letterhead at the top of a cover letter? I like to see consistency between the resume header and the cover letter header. I think it shows professionality and starts building a brand, if you can call it that.
Right hand side for Date and Address on a cover letter? I thought that was "old school"? I just took a course in Word 2007 and they instructed that all letters have sender name, address on left side and recipient info below that on left side.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, I agree Snail Mail is definitely antiquated.
Even though you emailed your resume, some companies ask you to bring your hard copy along with you.In that situation, the covering letter, paper quality is important.
ReplyDeleteI request the author about filling up the form at the company premises before your name is called for interview
Geeez, How old is this? And be sure and wear a pressed white shirt and black suit for the interview, with lots of greese on your hair. You want to look really KEEEN!
ReplyDeleteThese kinds of articles are usually based on blatent ignorance. Do some job searching and you'll figure out what gets you the action.
FYI to those who think mailing isn't worth it: I just mailed 217 covers/resumes to recruiting offices in the Midwest. I've received more calls, e-mails and one on one service in the last 10 days than I did in the whole first 5 months of my search. Think about it...you don't just drop into the electronic void, they have to contact you and request the electronic copy. Have to say mailing worked great for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally old school! In this age of social networking and electronic media, unless you are dealing with brick and mortar small shops.
ReplyDeleteIn have not 'carried' my resume once in the last 7 years!
And remember that now we are dealing with a new generation that of GenY as well. I am GenX but its likely that your new boss will be GenY.
Okay. So here we go again. This battle of the resumes/cover letters is as old as job hunting itself. Yes, I must admit I got caught up in all the new fangled do's and dont's of this electronic age and COMPLETELY revised my resume and cover letter, sent them out, and guess what? NOTHING!!!! So I decided to go back to the basics. The way I formatted both when I was first hired into software sales 12 years ago in MA. And guess what? Not only started getting calls but lots of email responses. My philosophy is something I learned from a photo instructor waaaaaay back in high school. KISS it! Keep It Simple, Stupid!
ReplyDeleteThumb up for the KISS!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that one man can help change so much just by standing up and speaking out tells you how much can be accomplished when we devote ourselves heart and soul to something we believe in.!@bose
ReplyDeleteCover Letter
Very much valuable write up on cover letters! Thanks and have bookmarked for future! Cover Letters
ReplyDeleteTry these effective and incredible Cover letter samples
ReplyDeleteIn this competitive world , you need to be very particular while making your cover letter. A perfect cover letter can lead your career to a successful future.
ReplyDeleteNice edition ! A cover letter must be of that quality standard that may differentiated you from the herd of followers. For that, hiring professional assistance is an ideal option as professionals together by utilizing their techniques and knowledge create eccentric kind of cover letters which can allure recruiter's eye.
ReplyDeleteHiring managers and recruiters have thousands of cover letters with them so how out of thousands, some get selected. What's there in those Cover letters. The answer is they are creative which have been designed as per the standards of job market and recruiters. Only professionals can design these sort of CL's as they got sufficient knowledge of recruiters, job industry and the applicants itself. They exactly know a cover letter should be designed in a manner which can win the recruiter's attention even among thousands.
ReplyDeleteJob search techniques change, the labour market changes and job descriptions change. But what more or less stays the same is the job interview. It’s your chance to sell yourself. The first 30 seconds of a Cover Letter Templates are the most important . The first tip is that Your interviewer will be thinking about what it would be like to work with you, so the last thing they’ll want to hear is you talking about your boss or current colleagues behind their back. Interviewers like to see someone who enjoys a challenge and is enthusiastic
ReplyDelete